Detachable headboard with armrests



14, 1957 J. w. BURKHOLD'ER 3,351,960

DETACHABLE HEADBOARD WITH ARMRESTS Filed April 28, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 John W Bur/rho/der INVENTOR.

\ BY ma w Mrz .1. w. BURKHOLDER 3,351,960

DETACHABLE HEADBOARD WITH ARMRESTS Nov. 14, 1967 Filed April 28, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 4

John W Bur/(holder Fig. 5

INVENTOR.

0 BY at Ammo United States Fatent O 3,351,960 DETACHABLE HEADBOARD WITH ARMRESTS John W. Burkholder, 5889 Jefferson Ave., Newport News, Va. 23605 Filed Apr. 28, 1966, Ser. No. 545,980 9 Claims. (Cl. -317) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE -A headboard for a bed having a cushioned surface facing the mattress receiving portion of the bed and a pair of enlarged armrests or supporting members pivotal from a vertical position recessed into the surface of the headboard and a horizontal position along each side of a person sitting up in the bed and leaning against the central portion of the headboard. Each armrest is provided with a compartment along the inner edge thereof having a closure and a laterally extensible member at the free edge thereof so that the laterally extensible members may be extended into abutting engagement in front of the occupant of the bed. The extensible members have a bookrest structure incorporated therein to support a book in a vertically inclined position in a convenient position for reading by a person sitting up in the bed. The headboard may be attached to a headboard of a conventional bed by clamp structures.

board for converting the bed to an assembly having a cushioned headboard with pivotal armrests and other utilitarian items incorporated therein. In addition, the

headboard of the present invention may be incorporated into bed headboards when they are constructed during the manufacturing process.

A, further object of the present invention is to provide .a bed headboard having a centrally disposed cushioned backrest portion and a pivotally mounted armrest or desk portion on each side thereof with each armrest having extensible portions at the outer edge thereof when pivoted to a generally horizontal position for orientation in front of a person sitting up in bed to serve as a bookrest or the like.

Yet another object of .the present invention is to pro- ..vide a detachable headboard having pivotal armrests in .which each of the armrests is provided with a compart- .ment for storage of various items and also a recess or the. like for a drinking glass, ashtray, bottle or the like.

. 5 Yet another important feature of the present invention is to provide a detachable headboard which is simple in construction, easy to attach to existing beds, effective for its particular purposes and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

.These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the detachable headboard of the present invention illustrating the headboard in its normal position as it would be used when a person is sleeping in the bed;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 1 but with the armrest components folded downwardly to a generally horizontal position;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse, sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 33 of FIGURE 2 illustrating the relationship of the components of the headboard as well as the manner of securing it to the existing iron type bed headboard;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 4-4 of FIGURE 3 illustrating further structural details of the headboard of the present invention;

FIGURE 5 is a detail sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 55 of FIGURE 3 illustrating further structural details of the armrest elements including the pivotal closures for the receptacles formed therein; and

FIGURE 6 is a detail sectional view illustrating the construction of the bookrest portion of the armrest.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the detachable headboard of the present invention which is mounted on a conventional bed generally designated by the numeral 12 which includes the usual bed rails 14, mattress 16 which may be in the form of a single mattress and spring assembly or may be a separate spring assembly and a separate mattress. The bed rails 14 are supported from an iron type headboard 18 of conventional construction which forms no particular part of the invention except that the iron headboard 18 usually includes upwardly extending tubular rails, one at each side of the headboard interconnected by a tubular top rail 20. Also, the manner of connection of the rails 14 to the headboard 16 is conventional and is only illustrated schematically since it forms no part of the present invention.

The headboard 10 includes a generally rectangular enlarged panel 22 having a top edge 24 and side edges 26 which generally overlie and extend at least to the outer edge of the iron headboard 18. Also, the top edge 24 is disposed at least as high as and possibly higher than the top rail 20 of the bed headboard 18 thus substantially completely concealing the iron headboard 18 so that the bed has an appearance different from its appearance with the iron headboard as illustrated in FIGURE 1,

Each side portion of the panel 22 is provided with an inwardly opening U-shaped or C-shaped clamp member 28 having a clamp screw 30 extending through one leg thereof with the other leg secured to the panel 22 in any suitable manner. An operating handle 32 is provided for the clamp screw 30 so that by manipulation of the clamp screw 30 will enable the headboard 10 to be attached to the existing iron headboard 18 as illustrated in FIGURE 3. The shape and configuration of the clamp structure and the manner of attachment may be varied depending upon the nature and construction of the existing bed headboard.

Each side portion of the front or outer surface of the panel 22 is provided with an enlarged recess designated by numerals 34 and 36 respectively thus leaving the central portion 38 of the panel 22 of constant thickness and the periphery of the recess 36 is also of constant thickness so that the recesses 34 and 36 form cavities for receiving armrests or desk portions 40 and 42 respectively which will completely fill the recesses 34 and 36 when pivoted to their collapsed positions as illustrated in FIGURE 1 but Which will extend forwardly and generally horizontally when in their operative positions as illustrated in FIGURE 2. The forward or outer surface of the panel 22 including the central portion 38 is provided with a cushioning and decorative material 44 Which may be in the form of a resilient or other cushioning material 46 having a leather, plastic or fabric covering 48 or the like having any suitable appearance and having any suitable quilting design or other means for attaching the cushioning and decorative material 44 to the front surface of the panel 22. This decorative material is also placed on .the outer surface of the armrests 40 and 42 as illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 4 so that when the armrests 40 and 42 are in their stored pOsitions as illustrated in FIGURE 1, the decorative motif and appearance characteristics of the headboard will be continuous throughout its area.

For pivotally supporting the armrests 4t) and 42, each of the armrests is provided with an elongated hinge rod 50 extending therethrough and extending into the portions of the panel 22 adjacent the bottom of the recesses 34 and ,36 respectively thus pivotally supporting the panels 40 and 42 for pivotal movement about generally horizontal axis adjacent the bottom of the armrests 40 and 42. A resilient clip or friction lock 52 is provided in at least one side wall of each recess 34 and 36 for frictionally and releasably retaining the armrests 40 and 42 in their stored position and enabling the armrests 4t} and 42 to be pivoted downwardly to a generally horizontal operative position. The armrests 40 and 42 may be stopped in the generally horizontal position by abutting surfaces as at 54 or a folding brace may be provided for the outer edges, of the armrests 40 and 42 which would normally be concealed when the armrests 4t) and 42 are in stored position but which would extend diagonally from the inher surface of the outer wall which defines each of the recesses and the outer edge of the armrest portions 40 and 42 respectively. Any suitable type of hinge structure may be employed including a stop hinge or the like to retain the armrest portions 40 and 42 in horizontal position and also any suitable catch or latch mechanism may be provided including magnetic latches or the like and if desired, a handle may be provided for the armrest portions on the outer surface thereof such as a small pull loop or the like to enable the armrest portions to be pulled downwardly in an expeditious manner.

Each armrest 40 and 42 is provided with a planar upper surface when in operative position and each of the armrest-s or either of the armrests may be provided with a socket or recess 56 in the surface thereof which may be employed for receiving a drinking glass, cup, bottle or may be used as an ashtray or receive a removable ashtray so that the person using the arm-rests may support a drink or use an ashtray or the like without likelihood of spillage or damage to the bed.

Adjacent the inner surface of each armrest 40 and 42, there is provided .a longitudinal recess 58 in the form of an elongated generally rectangular pocket or storage area forming a compartment for storage of various items such as writing implements, .a small transistor radio, remote television controls or any other items desired to be stored in a readily accessible position. A closure panel 60 is provided :for each compartment 58 and the closure 60 is hingedly supported from one edge of the compartment 58 by a hinge structure .62 such as .a piano type hinge and the upper surface of the closure 60 is provided with a cushioned cover 64 thereon so that the arms of the person sitting up in the bed may rest on the cover area in a comfortable manner. This enables the inner edges of the covers 60 to be easily grasped and pivoted upwardly to an open position to enable access to the interior of each of the compartments 5.8.

Along each front edge of each armrest 40 and 42, there is provided an elongated recessed area 66 having a centrally disposed elongated recess or groove 68 communicating with the bottom thereof with the groove 68 being undercut or dovetailed as illustrated in FIGURE 6. Slidable in the recess 66 is a bookrest and retaining member '70 which has a longitudinally extending rib 72 on the unidersurface thereof which is also dovetailed and is slidably received in the groove 68 and interlocked therewith .so that it cannot be vertically removed therefrom. The topof the bookrest 70 is provided with a partial plate member or bookrest member 74 hingedly attached to the outer edge thereof by a hinge 76. Inasmuch as the plate 74 or bookrest does not extend completely across the member 70, a ledge 7 8 is provided on the inner surface thereof to form an edge for engagement with the bottom edge of a book when a book is supported between the ledge formed by the member 78 and the upper edge of the bookrest 74 as illustrated in FIGURE 6.

As illustrated in FIGURE 2, when the bookrest and retaining members 70 are slid towards each other, their inner ends will meet and ab-uttingly engage each other so that this surface will be in front of the person sitting up in the bed and a substantial portion -.of the outer ends of the members 70 will be supported by the interengaging rib 72 and groove 68 thus retaining the members 70 in horizontal orientation and alignment so that the book 80 may be conveniently set in an inclined position as illustrated in FIGURE 6 for easy reading thereof. The hinge 76 may be a piano hinge or any other suitable type of hinge structure and the hinge may be a stop hinge or the edges of the member 74 and member 70 may abut as at 82 to limit the pivotal movement of the bookrest member 74 to the desired angular position as illustrated in FIGURE 6.

While the headboard has been illustrated as being attached to an iron type existing bed headboard, it may be associated with a Hollywood bed by merely extending the side edges 26 of the panel by providing legs thereon which would extend to a point adjacent the floor surfac to enable attachment to the usual supporting frame for a Hollywood bed or the like. Thus, the headboard may be employed for modernizing an existing bed or changing the appearance thereof and at the same time providing a convenient backrest for the central portion of the headboard and a convenient armrest and bookrest assembly which may be employed as desired. For example, either or both of the armrests may be employed and the armrests may also be used as writing tables or the like. The device is especially useful for people who are invalids or semiinvalids and spend considerable time in bed and also is useful for persons who are traveling and need to carry on certain correspondence or the like from motel rooms, hotel rooms and the like.

The particular construction of the headboard insofar as its appearance may vary with various decorative motifs or the like being carried out and also, various color cornbinations may be employed so that the headboard will be attractive in appearance as well as highly functional and utilitarian,

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A headboard comprising a panel having a surface facing the central portion of a bed, said surface including at least one recess adjacent one edge thereof, an armrest pivotally supported in said recess adjacent the bottom thereof so that the armrest may swing about generally ,a horizontal axis from a vertical position within the recess to a horizontal position projecting generally perpendicular therefrom towards the center of the bed whereby a person sitting up in bed resting against the headboard may rest his arm on the armrest in a convenient position, and means on said headboard enabling it to be associated with a bed structure, said armrest being provided with a transversely extending recess at the edge thereof remote from the headboard when in horizontal position, a laterally extending bookrest member supported in saidrecess and extensible from a retracted position within the confines of the armrest to an extended position infront of a person sitting up in bed alongside of the armrest, and means on the laterally extending member for supporting a book in an inclined position for retaining the book in easy position for reading.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said means on the laterally extending member for supporting a book includes a ledge at the inner edge thereof, and a pivotal prop adjacent the outer edge thereof, said ledge adapted to engage a book at the lower edge and said prop adapted to engage a book at a point intermediate the top and bottom edges for supporting a book in inclined position.

3. The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said panel is provided with a cushioned surface at least over that area engaged by the back of a person sitting up in the bed and leaning against the headboard.

4. The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said armrest includes a compartment along an inner edge thereof for receiving various items, and a closure panel for said compartment.

5. The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said means for associating the panel with a bed includes clamp means attached to the panel, said clamp means adapted to engage and detachably support the panel from an existing headboard structure.

6. In combination with a bed, a headboard comprising an enlarged panel extending across one end of the bed, a recess in each side area of the panel, an armrest hingedly mounted in each recess for swinging movement in a vertical plane from a stored position Within the recess to a generally horizontal position alongside of both sides of a person sitting up in bed and reclining against the headboard, said recesses and armrests having an aggregate width at least one-half of the width of the headboard to form surfaces of substantial area on the upper surface of each armrest.

7, The combination as defined in claim 6 wherein each armrest includes a laterally extending member at the outer edge thereof, said laterally extending members being movably supported from the armrests for extension into abutting engagement in front of a person sitting up in bed.

8. The combination as defined in claim 7 wherein each armrest includes a compartment in the inner edge portion thereof and a closure for each compartment, and each laterally extending member includes means engaging and supporting a book thereon in inclined position in front of a bed occupant.

9. The combination as defined in claim 8 wherein said means engaging and supporting a book on each laterally extending member including a longitudinal ledge along the inner edge portion of the longitudinally extending member, and a pivotal prop attached to the outer edge of said laterally extending member with the upper edge of the prop and the ledge disposed in an inclined plane and in spaced relation to each other for supporting a book in inclined position with the lower edge of the book engaging the ledge and an intermediate portion of the book engaging the free edge of the prop.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,950,128 3/1934 Vorbeck 5332 X 2,492,430 12/ 1949 Koch 5-72 2,516,265 7/1950 Shulman 5332 3,178,733 4/1965 Wachsman 5327 FOREIGN PATENTS 86,725 10/1920 Switzerland.

DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner.

R. D. KRAUS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A HEADBOARD COMPRISING A PANEL HAVING A SURFACE FACING THE CENTRAL PORTION OF BED, SAID SURFACE INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE RECESS ADJACENT ONE EDGE THEREOF, AN ARMREST PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED IN SAID RECESS ADJACENT THE BOTTOM THEREOF SO THAT THE ARMREST MAY SWING ABOUT GENERALLY A HORIZONTAL AXIS FROM A VERTICAL POSTION WITHIN THE RECESS TO A HORIZONTAL POSITION PROJECTING GENERALLY PERPENDICULAR THEREFROM TOWARDS THE CENTER OF THE BED WHEREBY A PERSON SITTING UP IN BED RESTING AGAINST THE HEADBOARD MAY REST HIS ARM ON THE ARMREST IN A CONVENIENT POSITION, AND MEANS ON SAID HEADBOARD ENABLING IT TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH A BED STRUCTURE, SAID ARMREST BEING PROVIDED WITH A TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING RECESS AT THE EDGE THEREOF REMOTE FROM THE HEADBOARD WHEN THE HORIZONTAL POSITION, A LATERALLY EXTENDING BOOKREST MEMBER SUPPORTED IN SAID RECESS AND EXTENSIBLE FROM A RETRACTED POSITION WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE ARMREST TO AN EXTENDED POSITION IN FRONT OF A PERSON SITTING UP IN BED ALONGSIDE OF THE ARMREST, AND MEANS ON THE LATERALLY EXTENDING MEMBER FOR SUPPORTING A BOOK IN AN INCLINED POSITION FOR RETAINING THE BOOK IN EASY POSITION FOR READING. 